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Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'? |
Yes |
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[ 41 ] |
No |
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42% |
[ 30 ] |
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Total Votes : 71 |
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Billy Boy T de F Winner
Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Posts: 30726 Location: Not Aylesbury
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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martin smith wrote: |
Paul H. wrote: |
Plumbers. Working class or middle class? |
upper class these days isn't it? |
Does £££ define class now then? _________________ "Well done, you are 100% absolutely without a shadow of a doubt spot-bollock-on correct." - Tucker
"Eating is not for wimps" - coal miner
"most of us don't have your brilliance." - John McC |
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martin smith World Champ
Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 12187 Location: shoehorning kittens into jars
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Billy Boy wrote: |
martin smith wrote: |
Paul H. wrote: |
Plumbers. Working class or middle class? |
upper class these days isn't it? |
Does £££ define class now then? |
as demonstrated ably by the house in the saloon - clearly not _________________ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. |
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martin smith World Champ
Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 12187 Location: shoehorning kittens into jars
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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class is all bolleux anyway. as kj said, people are people and should be evaluated on their own merits. _________________ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. |
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Billy Boy T de F Winner
Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Posts: 30726 Location: Not Aylesbury
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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martin smith wrote: |
class is all bolleux anyway. as kj said, people are people and should be evaluated on their own merits. |
I think we need a new system.
How about the following classifications -
Annoying tossers
Bullsh!tters
Dullards
Testers
Buckets of lard
Pointless people
Everyone else
_________________ "Well done, you are 100% absolutely without a shadow of a doubt spot-bollock-on correct." - Tucker
"Eating is not for wimps" - coal miner
"most of us don't have your brilliance." - John McC |
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Paul H. E, Bronze
Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 314 Location: not numb
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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martin smith wrote: |
Paul H. wrote: |
Plumbers. Working class or middle class? |
upper class these days isn't it? |
A good example tho of earning power being more related to supply and demand rather than class. In a few years they will be 10 a penny again. |
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DNAse E, Gold
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 2414 Location: Oxfordshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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Billy Boy wrote: |
martin smith wrote: |
class is all bolleux anyway. as kj said, people are people and should be evaluated on their own merits. |
I think we need a new system.
How about the following classifications -
Annoying tossers
Bullsh!tters
Dullards
Testers
Buckets of lard
Pointless people
Everyone else
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which are you? _________________ "Train?! Training is for people with no natural ability!" |
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Billy Boy T de F Winner
Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Posts: 30726 Location: Not Aylesbury
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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DNAse wrote: |
Billy Boy wrote: |
martin smith wrote: |
class is all bolleux anyway. as kj said, people are people and should be evaluated on their own merits. |
I think we need a new system.
How about the following classifications -
Annoying tossers
Bullsh!tters
Dullards
Testers
Buckets of lard
Pointless people
Everyone else
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which are you? |
Which one aren't I you mean? _________________ "Well done, you are 100% absolutely without a shadow of a doubt spot-bollock-on correct." - Tucker
"Eating is not for wimps" - coal miner
"most of us don't have your brilliance." - John McC |
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Rich Hill Tour Winner
Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Posts: 15188 Location: Coventry
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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John McC wrote: |
As far as I'm concerned, it is a classless sport. |
I'll 2nd that. _________________ Imagination is the war against reality.... |
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Lone Wheeler E, Bronze
Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 411 Location: Dubai
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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i'll third that....people with class don't need to shout about it, they just have it. _________________ www.freddibnahheritagecentre.co.uk |
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vegetable Cat 1 Groupie
Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 181
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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16simon Elite Poster
Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 214 Location: london
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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Is that Tony Bell? |
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1000 Cat 1 Groupie
Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 183
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Financially speaking (from experience)
Unforutnately some riders feel they have to keep up with the jones' and over stretch their disposable income in an attempt to either feel one of the crowd or to compete with others on a level playing field.
This often gives the wrong impression when every 3rd, 4th cat, junior and his dog turn up at races blinged out with the latest colnago bike *CENSORED*.
Passes by must think cyclists are made of money when in fact most arent in my experience. |
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Graham Webb E, Bronze
Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 303 Location: Flanders, Belgium
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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That's the one thing we don't have here, and the one thing I loath most about my native country, 'class distinction'. If in Belgium I cycle with the Prime Minister, Eddy Merckx or one of my old work mates it all feels the same to me, and them. So I won't be voting Fritz. |
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mattr World Champ
Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 12647
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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of the guys i've conversed with in our new club we have a couple of joiners, a steeplejack, a roofer, a guy who pours concrete mouldings, a couple of housewifes (married to one or other of the aforementioned blokes) a nurse or two and dozen or so juveniles/juniors/students.
Mostly riding around on nice (ish) bikes. Driving 3-5 year old cars and all in a nice big house (well they cost f-all here).
So me and the wife as professionals are both odd ones out.
We never miss a training session as we are working late's or nights..........
Our last club in the UK was mainly professionals, teachers, engineers, management types etc.
We now live in Swedens industrial heartland (tho you wouldn't be able to tell) we used to live in a poshish bit of the midlands.
Make of that what you will.
(I think it's more to do with the area your club is based in, my first club in York had everything from minimum wage thro to the (then) boss of BREL.)
Keeping up with the Joneses is what is putting people with smaller disposable incomes off, if you don't have a carbon/Ultegra road bike, you can't ride with us attitude...... and so on.
Look at the number of thirds/fourths with carbon wheels, frame etc.
I'm not saying they shouldn't splash the cash, but it makes the sport look inaccessible.
(Best thing is watching the blinged up 4th cat getting hammered by someone on a 10 year old steel frame with 7 speed down tube shifter.....) |
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1000 Cat 1 Groupie
Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 183
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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mattr wrote: |
Keeping up with the Joneses is what is putting people with smaller disposable incomes off, if you don't have a carbon/Ultegra road bike, you can't ride with us attitude...... and so on.
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ohhh
I do hope you are on about winter club runs right? Ultegra to race on? People do that do they? seriously? |
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Lee World Champ
Joined: 12 Jul 2002 Posts: 12612 Location: Hertfordshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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I think it is classless to a degree. But you need a fair chunk of disposable or be prepared to batter your credit cards. 1 decent road bike will probably cost around a £1k, but could easily be £3k plus and still not be that out of the ordinary. And how many people have one bike. So maybe a TT bike - well that's not going to be cheap if you have decent wheels, or a track bike, or a cross bike or an MTB and it really starts to mount up yet nobody ion here would consider 4 bikes a lot?? Then kit, easy to spend £100 on pretty much any item of kit from shoes, shorts, shades helmet etc??
So it's not a sport for those with little disposable and thats before you factor in the cost of racing. But wealth and disposable income are not necessarily bedfellows are they? _________________
Tucker wrote: |
But, on reflection, you're probably right... |
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mattr World Champ
Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 12647
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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1000 wrote: |
mattr wrote: |
Keeping up with the Joneses is what is putting people with smaller disposable incomes off, if you don't have a carbon/Ultegra road bike, you can't ride with us attitude...... and so on.
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ohhh
I do hope you are on about winter club runs right? Ultegra to race on? People do that do they? seriously? |
lol
in some clubs it appears that way. |
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mattr World Champ
Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 12647
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Lee wrote: |
I think it is classless to a degree. But you need a fair chunk of disposable or be prepared to batter your credit cards. 1 decent road bike will probably cost around a £1k, but could easily be £3k plus and still not be that out of the ordinary. And how many people have one bike. So maybe a TT bike - well that's not going to be cheap if you have decent wheels, or a track bike, or a cross bike or an MTB and it really starts to mount up yet nobody ion here would consider 4 bikes a lot?? Then kit, easy to spend £100 on pretty much any item of kit from shoes, shorts, shades helmet etc??
So it's not a sport for those with little disposable and thats before you factor in the cost of racing. But wealth and disposable income are not necessarily bedfellows are they? |
this is my point exactly, the differences between a good quality £300 second hand steel bike, a £1000 Planet X Carbon SL and a £3-5k lance ar5ekisser, in the grand scheme of things, is f**k all. It's more about what you do with it.
The guy who leads our club rides is an ex national champ, has been selected to ride the worlds and olympics (both MTB and Road) and a number of other events, he is still riding round on his last team issue bike, a 7 year old Fuji. Can still give the rest of us a kicking.
Hes a manual labourer, with 4 kids and a wife to support. Hardly big income. |
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1000 Cat 1 Groupie
Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 183
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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mattr wrote: |
lol
in some clubs it appears that way. |
Cycling seems to be a sport which often has a few of the 'all the gear, no idea' folk. Then again a £100k p/a job in the city will often afford a bachelor/ette a nice little £5-6k mount for those crisp 16mph winter runs in surrey
Go up norf and the coal miners all turn up on a sunday morning after the night shift down the pit for their local TTs, throw off the mudguards and get on with 100 mile efforts on their 1970 carltons
Power tap to these guys is the new line dancing class down the social mans working club |
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racyrich2 E, Gold
Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 3123 Location: Essex
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Why all the fuss. As has been said, cyclists come from all professions and classes. And those with any sense respect what the legs do, nothing else.
And of course the 3rds and 4ths have the best bikes, They're typically older and richer and finally have the wherewithall to afford some nice gear. It's the not-quite-good-enough-to-be-sponsored 21 year olds who struggle with kit.
One other point. It's to all our benefit if it is perceived as middle-class, as that's the group whose acceptance we require on the road. Much as we might fear working-class white van man, the politicians take note of middle england, and when they start to support cycling and cyclists, so will politicians. And then our ascendancy begins. _________________ Rich
Last edited by racyrich2 on Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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